Advanced Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are already established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements. Applicant Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal. ERC Advanced Grant Principal Investigators are expected to be active researchers and to have a track record of significant research achievements in the last 10 years which must be presented in the application.

Principal Investigators of Advanced Grant proposals will be expected to demonstrate a record of achievements appropriate to the field and at least matching one or more of the following benchmarks:

- 10 publications as main author (or in those fields where alphabetic order of authorship is the norm, joint author) in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, and/or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed conferences proceedings of their respective field;

- 3 major research monographs, of which at least one is translated into another language. This benchmark is relevant to research fields where publication of monographs is the norm (e.g. humanities and social sciences).

New: Call for Proposals: Support for the deployment of skills assessments in the implementation of “Upskilling Pathways”

Description of the activities to be funded / Type of actions:

(a) Proposals must be centred around one of the two or a combination of the two elements below:

 Tools for assessing the skills (including, literacy and/or numeracy and/or digital skills) of low-skilled / low qualified adults or priority targets groups as defined by the countries, where relevant, and / or

 Arrangements for providing such assessments to low-skilled / low qualified adults or priority targets groups as defined by the countries, where relevant.

(b) Proposals must include one or more of the following activities:

 Enlarging the scale or scope of existing assessment tools and arrangements for low-skilled / low-qualified adults that are considered to be effective (e.g. enlarging the scope of an existing assessment arrangement to cover a different target group); or

 Adapting to the needs of low-skilled adults existing assessment tools and arrangements that are considered to be effective (e.g. adapting an assessment so that it assesses basic literacy, numeracy or digital skills); or

 Developing new assessment tools and arrangements for low-skilled adults and/or testing them on a scale that allows conclusions to be drawn about their effectiveness.

Eligibility of the applicants (lead and co-applicants):

To be eligible, the mono-applicant or lead applicant in case of consortium must be a public entity in charge of national or regional policies and actions for upskilling/re-skilling adults.

Any co-applicants must be public or private entities (profit or non-profit making) involved in the organisation and/or financing and/or provision of services to adults such as skills assessment, validation of competences, education and training, orientation and guidance.

New: Call for Proposals: Promotion of domestic worker cooperatives and service voucher schemes

The objectives of this Pilot Project are:

• The pilot project will provide advice, technical assistance and a range of tailored guidance activities and recommendations to Member States interested in developing the PHS sector, and will support the exchange of good practices among key stakeholders, national public administrations (municipalities/local administrations in the case of a trial introduction) and organisations of domestic workers, carers and

employers.

• Regarding the social dialogue and decent working conditions, the project will facilitate the professionalisation of these jobs, the dissemination of information on the rights and obligations of workers and employers and the creation and development of an effective social dialogue.

The following activities will be financed:

• organization of a European conference;

• setting up and maintenance of a website to present good practices, some elements of guidance and other analytical and information material;

• Technical assistance to Member States and stakeholders to develop a service voucher scheme and/or social dialogue in the PHS (Personal and Household Service) sector.

To be eligible lead applicants, co-applicants and affiliated entities must fall within one of the following categories: non-profit-making organisations such as European federations, universities and research institutes; social partners; public authorities; international organisations.

The aim of this study is then to develop a Cr free solution to remove anodic oxidation layers obtained with new alternative treatments, without deteriorating the aluminium alloy substrate. Please refer to the full topic descriptions document published in this call.

The proposed activity shall investigate, develop, and validate emerging thermal-aware SW-based techniques that will reduce operational temperature of electronic circuits. The expected impact of the improved thermal performance will both improve computing performance and will reduce size and weight of electronics due to relaxed dissipation requirements. Please refer to the full topic descriptions document published in this call.

The objective of this topic is to gain knowledge on physics involved in heat exchanger deterioration. Hence, models which can deal with multi-scale and multi-disciplinary physics shall be built, communicating between each other, with the objective to accurately simulate real operational conditions.

Development of Measurement Techniques for Visualisation and Evaluation of Reverse Flow Interactions with Fan

Reverse flows generated by the thrust reverser unit (TRU) are of significant complexity. In order to ensure reliable fan performance when the TRU is deployed, the flow topologies up- and down-stream of the fan module need to be investigated and understood. For this purpose, advanced measurement techniques for a novel level of visualisation and evaluation of reverse flow interactions with fan aerodynamics need to be developed.

Adoption of a “Digital Transformation” approach to improve NGCTR design and simulation

The Topic is aimed to develop a new approach in the develop of the NGCTR, using new technologies associated to the Digital Transformation concept (Big Data; IoT; AI; AR/VR;), and designing new methods capable to earn the maximum value from these.

But also to support the optimization of flight campaigns and improving design choices, thanks to new insights coming from the massive data analysis and finding innovative algorithms and correlations.

In the present topic, carbon fibres’ sizing shall be manufactured and modified in order to optimise the interlinkage between recycled carbon fibres and a polymeric or a cementitious matrix with the goal to produce improved carbon fibre composite materials with increased mechanical properties.

Composite mould tool based on 3D printing

The objective of the present topic is to develop a composite mould tool based on an innovative large additive manufactured structure. The tool surface shall be able to withstand a high production rate, similar to today's metallic tools. The tool is intended to be used for producing a composite demonstrator with a size of approximately 1.5x3 sqm.

Cognitive Computing potential for cockpit operations

The objective of this research project is to assess how Cognitive Computing could efficiently support by 2035+ pilot decision making in unexpected or very complex situations.

New: Call for proposals on Social Inclusion and Common Values: the Contribution in the Field of Education, Training and Youth

Projects submitted under this call should aim at:

1. Disseminating and/or scaling up good practices on inclusive learning initiated in particular at local level. In the context of the present call, scaling up means replicating good practice on a wider scale/transferring it to a different context or implementing it at a higher/systemic level;

Eligible applicants are public and private organisations active in the field of education, training and youth or other socio-economic sectors or organisations carrying out cross-sector activities (e.g. cultural organisations, civil society, sport organisations, recognition centres, chambers of commerce, trade organisations, etc.).

The minimum partnership composition requirement for this call is 4 eligible organisations from 4 different programme countries. If networks are involved in the project, the consortium must include at least 2 organisations which are not members of the network(s) and the consortium has to represent at least 4 eligible countries.

Topic 1: Exchange of staff
Scope: Organising staff exchanges between national and regional administrations (in particular, in neighbouring Member States) to contribute to the further development, improvement and updating of staff's skills and competences in the protection of the Union’s financial interests.

Topic 2: ​Conferences
Scope:​ ​Organising conferences (i.e. conferences, seminars, colloquia, round-tables and workshops) to create networks and structural platforms between Member States, candidate countries, other third countries and international public organisations in order to facilitate the exchange of information, experience and best practices. The information and best practices should relate to, amongst others, the risks and vulnerabilities the Union's financial interests are exposed, as well as investigation methods and/or prevention activities.

T​opic 3: Targeted, specialised training
Scope:​ ​Developing targeted specialised trainings to create networks and structural platforms between Member States, candidate countries, other third countries and international public organisations in order to facilitate the exchange of information, experience and best practices. The information and best practices should relate to, amongst others, the risks and vulnerabilities the Union's financial interests are exposed, as well as investigation practices and/or prevention activities.

- Projects aimed at development, studies and analyses of the sociological landscape and trends on hate speech online;

- Projects on developing online alternative and counter-narratives and promoting the development of critical thinking by Internet users;

- Projects aimed at countering illegal hate speech online on social platforms/Internet companies (As defined under national laws transposing the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA, on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law) and enhancing transparency on how manifestations of hate speech are addressed in the online world.

The main objective of this call for proposals is to complement and add value to the activities indicated in the work programme of the European Platform tackling undeclared work. Other objectives are to develop and fund innovative initiatives which shall contribute to enhancing the implementation, application, knowledge and better enforcement of EU and national law in the area of undeclared work, thus contributing to the reduction of undeclared work and to the emergence of the formal jobs. The knowledge gained from these projects should also help building up evidence-based knowledge for better policy design. The priority is to co-finance actions fostering joint activities and cross-border projects of enforcement authorities improving their technical capacity in the field of preventing and deterrence of undeclared work.

Call for proposals to address: equal participation of women and men in public fora, in leadership positions in politics and in the corporate sector and to support public authorities and civil society in relation with the 'New Start to Support Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers' initiative

Priorities and activities to be co-financed:

- The aim of the first priority is to support projects promoting equality for women and men in public debates, in leadership positions in politics and in the corporate sector;

- The aim of the second priority is to support projects aiming at better enforcement of EU law on work-life balance and in particular of protection against dismissal and unfavourable treatment due to pregnancy or parenthood.

Call for proposals to prevent and combat gender-based violence and violence against children

Priorities and activities to be co-financed:

- Prevention of gender-based violence (GBV): The focus of this priority is on primary prevention, in particular changing social norms and behaviour, in order to end tolerance of all forms of gender-based violence;

- Protection and support for victims and witnesses of domestic violence, including through tackling under-reporting, promoting multi-disciplinary cooperation, and capacity building for relevant professionals;

- The coordination and/or adaptation of support services for sexual and gender-based violence to include refugees and migrants, in particular to ensure their recovery from such trauma;

- Prevention and responding to cyber sexual- and gender-based violence;

- Promoting the embedding of child safeguarding policies across different settings and sectors, such as sports clubs and organisations, extra-curricular activities and/or leisure/recreation clubs/organisations for children, both as a means to protect and safeguard children as well as to equip staff with the necessary training and guidance.

An ECSEL Research and Innovation Action (RIA) primarily consists of activities aiming to establish new knowledge and/or to explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, service, method, tool or solution. For this purpose they may include applied research, technology development and/or method/tool and integration, testing and validation on a small-scale prototype in a laboratory or simulated environment.

Call of Proposals: Establishing and operating a pilot for a Cybersecurity Competence Network to develop and implement a common Cybersecurity Research & Innovation Roadmap.

The objective of this topic is to scale up existing research for the benefit of the cybersecurity of the Digital Single Market, with solutions that can be marketable. For this, participants should in parallel propose, test, validate and exploit the possible organisational, functional, procedural, technological and operational setup of a cybersecurity competence network with a central competence hub. Projects under this topic will help build and strengthen cybersecurity capacities across the EU as well as provide valuable input for the future set-up of the Cybersecurity Competence Network with a European Cybersecurity Research and Competence Centre as mentioned by the Joint Communication.

Call for proposals on capacity-building in the area of rights of the child - putting in place robust national or regional integrated mechanisms to support children ageing out of/leaving alternative care

Projects shall support capacity building of professionals working for and with children on the rights of the child and child protection: project activities shall focus on putting in place robust national or regional integrated mechanisms to support children ageing out of/leaving alternative care and they shall encompass a strong child participation component (in project conception and design/empowerment of children/the child’s right to be heard/children’s involvement in reviewing service delivery).

For the purpose of this prize, artificial photosynthesis is understood to be a process that aims at mimicking the physical chemistry of natural photosynthesis by absorbing solar energy in the form of photons. The solution is required to use this energy to generate fuel molecules through a synthetic system to be delivered as a single integrated device that utilises either biomimetic, nanotechnology, synthetic biology or a combination of these systems.
Meeting the challenge will stimulate innovation and focus research and development towards energy applications in a new energy technology through increased public and commercial interest. Moreover, it will accelerate the development of new innovative energy conversion systems using solar light and natural elements to produce renewable fuels to be used in industry, housing and transport.Deadline: 03 February 2021http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/sunfuel-eicprize-2021.html

EIC Horizon Prize for 'Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid

The challenge consists of developing innovative solutions for the delivery of humanitarian aid based on frugal application of advanced technologies.
Expected Impact: More cost-effective, more sustainable and higher-quality innovative solutions, leading to an optimised use of humanitarian funding and an enhanced response to urgent needs in a humanitarian aid settings, notably for those in a most vulnerable situation, in areas such as shelter, water and sanitation, energy, heating or cooling, food, hygiene and medical care.Deadline: 15 January 2020http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/humanitarianaid-eicprize-2020.html

Horizon Prize for Social Innovation in Europe

The social innovation Horizon prize will pull together society's resources from different spheres including the public, private and social economy to deliver new solutions to the challenge of Aging Population. The aim is to spur interest and citizen's engagement, incite new collaborations, incentivize behavioural change towards a particular issue, attract new dynamic innovators to the area, mobilise additional private investment for innovation, generate social solutions and encourage a European social innovation "doers" community, while creating jobs and opening markets in new areas and create new social value, relationships and collaborations.Deadline: 28 February 2019https://goo.gl/Pk9bBS